Page 1 of 1 To be revealed for the first time in public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005, the fifth generation of the much-loved BMW 3 Series again resets the benchmark in dynamic sports sedan driving with a significant step forward. Feted for 30 years as the definitive driver's car, with the arrival of the E90, the BMW 3 Series adds an armoury of impressive, innovative improvements for engine, chassis, safety technology as well as driving comfort.

The all-new R6 straight-six cylinder fitted to the top-of-the-range BMW 330i offers an energetic output of 258 bhp, with torque at 300 Nm between 2,500 and 4,000 rpm. The new 3.0-litre R6 is the most powerful and lightest six-cylinder engine in its segment. To minimise weight, BMW has employed magnesium for the first time in large-scale series production, achieving a substantial 30 percent weight saving compared with an all aluminium alloy engine.

The 320i and 325i models will come as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox and the option of a six-speed automatic transmission. The 330i will be available as standard with the automatic transmission. An extra gear, closer increments and wider overall spread of ratios allow the driver to extract the most from these engines, particularly at step-off. The new BMW 3 Series is even more dynamic on the road, accelerating faster than before and achieving a higher top speed, while consuming less fuel and thus producing fewer emissions.

Stiffer and lighter than before, the bodyshell of the new BMW 3 Series benefits from lightweight engineering via latest-generation steel and moulding technologies. A new joint and crossbar design for the car's load-bearing structure increases body stiffness by 25 per cent, with no weight gain over the E46. The new BMW 3 Series is designed to achieve best results in the EuroNCAP crash test. It is also one of the first cars in the world fully prepared for the extremely demanding side-impact requirements in the USA as well as the US high-speed rear impact test.

The interior of the new BMW 3 Series is modern and harmonious, the luxurious ambience reflecting a sense of controlled dynamism and lightness. The interior conveys the twin 3 Series strengths of luxury and sports driving. With iDrive eliminating the conventional array of buttons and knobs in the cockpit, Comfort Access, available as an option, renders the conventional ignition key a thing of the past. A transmitter referred to as the ID Sensor enables the owner to enter the car and start the engine without even touching the key. And in conjunction with Key Memory, the ID Sensor recalls the seat position, mirrors, automatic air conditioning and radio tuning settings used on the driver's last journey. Page 1 of 1